Monaural versus Binaural Auditory Brainstem Response Threshold to Clicks Masked by High-Pass Noise in Normal-Hearing Subjects

Abstract

Monaural and binaural auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds to clicks masked by high-pass noise with a cut-off frequency of 1 590 Hz were measured in normal-hearing subjects. In sleeping normal-hearing subjects, the 1 000-Hz frequency-specific ABR threshold for binaural stimulation amounted to 12 dB nHL and for monaural stimulation to 18 dB nHL. No significant difference in latency was found between monaural and binaural stimulation. Binaural ABR threshold was 5.5 ± 1.4 dB (mean ± SEM) lower than the mean monaural ABR threshold. This difference is statistically significant (Student's t test; p< 0.005).

Key Words:

• Brainstem electric response audiometry
• Auditory brainstem response threshold, monaural
• Auditory brainstem response threshold, binaural